17 March 2025

My husband Carl and I set off on our fifth trip to Barbados, this time to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We had married on the island, making it a deeply special place in our hearts. After a peaceful start in the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class lounge, we boarded “Miss Sunshine” for a smooth flight, complete with delicious food and a relaxing three-hour nap that made the 8-hour journey feel effortless. We could already feel the excitement building as we approached our island paradise. Arriving early in Barbados, we were greeted with a warm “Welcome home!” at immigration, which instantly made us feel like we belonged. We arrived to the sound of steel drums filling the air, instantly setting the tone for the laid-back, lively atmosphere we’d been longing for. The 40-minute drive to the Fairmont Royal Pavilion was calming, with lush greenery and ocean views setting the perfect tone for the trip. Upon arrival, we were treated to Rum Punch and a warm reception. Although our room wasn’t quite ready, the wait felt like part of the experience, enjoying the island’s tropical warmth and laid-back vibe. Room 317, a Signature Ocean Front room, exceeded all our expectations. Bright, airy, and beautifully decorated, the view of the ocean took our breath away. We quickly changed into our swimwear and headed to the beach, where we basked in the sun, letting the last rays of the afternoon melt away the travel fatigue. Dinner at Taboras followed, a simple yet delicious end to our first day on the island. The next morning, we awoke to blue skies and the soothing sound of waves crashing against the shore. It was the perfect scene for a tranquil day ahead. The Fairmont’s location was ideal—just a short walk from Holetown’s lively atmosphere, offering a mix of shops, restaurants, and bars, yet still peaceful enough for relaxation. It gave us the best of both worlds, with everything we needed right at our doorstep, yet the perfect haven to retreat to. We made it a point to explore the island’s culinary scene, visiting standout spots like The Cliff, Lone Star, Tides, Jumas, and SeaCat. Each restaurant offered unique dining experiences, from upscale seafood with breath taking views to cozy beachside gems with authentic local flavours. Dining on the island is an experience in itself—whether you’re enjoying fresh fish by the sea or indulging in Caribbean spices that dance on your palate. Every meal felt like a celebration of the island’s vibrant culture. While we’ve explored some of the classic island attractions in the past, this trip was all about embracing the island's peaceful energy and restaurants. We spent our days leisurely strolling the beach, chatting with friendly locals, and savouring the vibrant culture that makes Barbados so special. Every moment felt like a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a reminder of why this island has become our second home. Barbados holds a permanent place in our hearts. From the stunning beaches to the welcoming locals, every visit leaves us with unforgettable memories. We’ve already started looking forward to next year’s return, ready to make even more magical moments. Until then, Barbados! We’ll be counting down the days until we’re back on your sun-kissed shores.

23 October 2024

On September 20th, I embarked on a delightful 4-night getaway to Lake Garda with my mum and my youngest daughter! We kicked things off at Birmingham Airport, and after a little delay, we were soaring through the skies. Our home for the next few nights was the charming Hotel Dori in Peschiera del Garda, which made for a perfect base to explore! As soon as we walked in, a warm and friendly receptionist welcomed us, making us feel right at home. Check-in was a breeze, and we headed straight to our rooms to drop off our bags. We were really looking forward to grabbing a bite to eat! I had booked two lovely Lake View rooms, but since it was dark, we couldn't catch a glimpse of the lake just yet. Guess we'll have to wait until morning for that treat! We made our way to the town, just a quick five-minute stroll away, and found so many great restaurants! After enjoying a delicious dinner, we were pretty worn out from our travels, so we decided to head back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. Honestly, the bed was super comfy! As soon as I woke up, I couldn't wait to swing open the door to my little balcony and take in the gorgeous lake view. Honestly, it was absolutely stunning! I was just so excited to explore more of the beautiful Lake Garda. After a lovely breakfast, we made our way down to the harbour, eager to catch a ferry to explore different towns. It turned out to be a bit tricky at first, and we ended up inadvertently signing up for a two-hour boat trip to Sirmione instead. It wasn’t exactly what we had in mind, but the folks organizing the boat reassured us that the ferries wouldn’t be running over the weekend due to some boating event happening on the lake. At the time, we found this a bit strange and disappointing, but went with it. As we were ushered onto a small speedboat—definitely not the ferry we were expecting—my poor mum, who has some mobility challenges, had to navigate a steep ladder to get on the boat, and there was no assistance from the staff. That really didn’t sit right with us, and unfortunately, the short ride to Sirmione was clouded by the worry of how mum would manage to climb back up the ladder afterward. When we arrived in the stunning town of Sirmione, our first stop was the Tourist Information office to explore some other options for getting back to Peschiera, because there was no way we were getting back on that boat! As I suspected, we learned that we had totally been scammed —turns out the ferries were operating just fine! What a relief that was! It allowed us to relax and fully enjoy our time in Sirmione, knowing we had plenty of time to soak it all in and could easily hop on a ferry later. Lesson learned! Sirmione is such a charming little town with its narrow, cobbled streets and a lovely castle! You can easily spend hours enjoying the vibe at the outdoor restaurants, perfect for people-watching. Plus, there are plenty of shops and gelato outlets to explore – it’s a delightful place to wander around! During our trip, I took care of booking all the ferries online, and it was so simple! It saved us a ton of time by skipping the lines at the ticket booths. Even in September, there were quite a few people around, so I’d definitely recommend booking online. The next day, we hopped on a ferry to the charming town of Garda. The views while crossing the lake were absolutely stunning! Once we arrived, Garda welcomed us with its own unique beauty. Since it was a Sunday, we were delighted to find a lively market right by the ferry dock, where local artisans were showcasing their incredible crafts. We enjoyed a lovely stroll around town and, feeling a bit hungry, picked one of the many lakeside restaurants to relax in. The waiters were just delightful! There’s really nothing quite like having lunch by the beautiful lake. After Garda, we headed over to Bardolino! It had a different vibe compared to the other towns, and it wasn't quite our favorite. It just didn't offer the same charm we were hoping for. We enjoyed a coffee there before making our way back across the stunning lake to Peschiera. I took some time to explore Peschiera on my own and stumbled upon this delightful spot called the Pavillion. It was bustling with trendy lounge bars, upscale shops, and delicious restaurants. The view by the lake was absolutely gorgeous! Monday was our last full day, and my mum was really excited to explore Verona! I had visited before and was thrilled to go back—it’s like a mini Rome! We jumped into a taxi to the train station, and just 15 minutes later, we arrived in Verona. Once we were there, we took another quick taxi ride that dropped us off right by the gorgeous Arena in the city centre. Just a heads-up, though—the Arena is closed on Mondays. We couldn’t resist stopping for a coffee at one of the lovely restaurants with a view of the Arena, where we had a great time people-watching. Since my mum needed a bit of mobility assistance, we decided to hop on the noddy train to explore the city. It was just 5 euros each for a 25-minute ride, and because Verona is so compact, we easily checked out all the highlights at a relaxed pace! I had a great time shopping for about an hour, but then the skies opened up and it started raining really heavily. Thankfully, we were more than happy to hop in a taxi and head back to the train station! Once we arrived at Peschiera Station, we found ourselves waiting quite a while for a taxi. Eventually, I decided to book an Uber, though it wasn’t the most wallet-friendly option! Our ride back to Verona airport was right on time, and we made it there in under 25 minutes – so convenient! Lake Garda is simply breathtaking. The place is immaculate, with no litter in sight and beautifully maintained grass and flower beds everywhere you look. I can't recommend a visit enough! Next time I go back, I plan to stay longer so I can explore more of the charming towns around the lake.

13 September 2024

Last year, during our trip to the Amalfi Coast, I became really curious about what Sicily might be like. So, naturally, I jumped into planning mode! Before we knew it, I had booked us flights with BA from Heathrow to Palermo and, after a bit of research, I decided that we'd stay in the gorgeous town of Cefalù! Our flight arrived ahead of schedule, and before we knew it, we were cruising in our fancy Mercedes transfer to the lovely Victoria Palace Hotel right on the Lungomare, which took about 90 minutes. The spot was just perfect for hitting the beach, and we were only a quick ten-minute stroll away from the charming old town! We got to the hotel bright and early, and since our room wasn’t ready yet, we decided to leave our bags at the reception. We took a lovely stroll to one of the nearby restaurants for some lunch, and of course, I had to indulge in my favourite drink, an Aperol Spritz! The weather was super warm, and I was itching to slip into my swimwear and take a dip in the hotel pool. But then we spotted some dark clouds looming overhead, and it seemed like a storm was on its way! After lunch, we made our way back to the hotel, dropped off our bags in our room, and excitedly headed for the sun loungers! As soon as we settled in, we felt a few raindrops, so we decided to make a quick detour to the hotel bar for another refreshing Aperol Spritz! By then, the thunder and lightning were really picking up, and my daughter Laila and I couldn’t resist heading over to the sea front to snap some photos and try to catch a lightning shot. Suddenly, out of nowhere, it felt like a hurricane hit! One moment everything was calm, and the next it was total chaos, with even a tree getting snapped in half by the wind. Laila and I quickly rushed back inside the hotel, joining a bunch of other guests, and we all watched in awe as the storm rolled in and gradually passed through. The next morning, we were greeted with a gorgeous clear blue sky, so Carl and I thought it would be a great idea to hike up Rocca di Cefalu, which stands at 268 meters. We paid a small fee of 5 euros each and eagerly started our adventure. At first, I didn’t think much of it; I figured it would be a breeze, especially since we passed folks who were older than me and looked like they were handling it just fine. How tough could it really be? Well, it turned out to be one of the scariest experiences of my life! I’ve always had a fear of heights, and this hike definitely tested those limits! Seriously, without Carl’s constant encouragement and support, I might have thrown in the towel. There were moments when it felt like we were standing on the edge of a cliff, with sheer drops leading straight down to the sea, which looked like it was a thousand meters away! But once we finally reached the top, it was absolutely worth it. We found a beautiful castle and an archaeological site complete with picnic benches, and the views from up there were simply stunning! The day after our rock climbing adventure, we decided to chill out a bit and booked a fun 3-hour boat trip. We made our way to the marina, hopped on board with some other friendly passengers, and set off down the beautiful coast. We had three amazing stops for snorkelling, which was such a refreshing experience! When we got back on the boat, we were treated to some delicious appetizers and drinks—what a lovely way to wrap up our afternoon! Cefalù's old town is absolutely charming! With its narrow alleyways and lovely cobbled streets lined with cute souvenir shops and delightful restaurants, it's easy to see why so many tourists flock here. The beach has lovely sandy spots, though the sea is a bit rocky at first. But don’t worry! Once you navigate through the rocks, you’ll find a beautiful sandy area that’s perfect for wading about in the shallow water. Plus, Hotel Victoria Palace offers its own section of the beach with sun beds, handy toilet facilities, and a restaurant. We just had to make a trip to the capital, Palermo, while we were in Sicily! So, one day we decided to hop on a train, which was a breeze. The station was only about a ten-minute walk from our hotel, and the tickets were a steal at around 12 euros for a round trip per person. Once we arrived in Palermo, we didn’t have a set plan—we just wanted to wander and soak in the vibe of the city. We strolled along the marina and then meandered through the streets, passing by so many historical buildings until we happily stumbled upon the stunning cathedral. Wow, it was absolutely beautiful! Just a heads up, though—it was an incredibly hot day, so visiting Palermo in August might not be the best idea! Our fabulous week in Sicily flew by, and we loved every moment! I can’t wait to explore the other side of the island someday, where Mount Etna and charming towns such as Taormina await!

26 April 2024

It was the morning of the 15th April and myself, husband Carl and daughter Laila were off to Abu Dhabi. Our journey started at London Heathrow's Terminal 4 where we checked in with Etihad. It was a smooth check in and we soon passed though security to go and enjoy a nice breakfast whilst waiting to board our flight. The flight took approximately 7 hours and we landed in Abu Dhabi at 8pm. It took about an hour from landing to getting in a taxi and we were on our way to the hotel. Wow, what can I say! The approach to the hotel which was the Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace was jaw dropping! It's a huge and very opulent hotel We were warmly welcomed by the staff and directed to our Deluxe Garden View room. The view was more than a garden as we could also see the pools. The room was large and had all the amenities we needed. Our first day was not what we expected it to be! We woke up to the sound of heavy rain. I had to think for a moment, was I still in the UK! We past time by having breakfast and a wonder around the hotel trying to find our bearings. The weather wasn't showing any sign of improving so we decided to take a taxi to the louvre Museum. The Louvre Museum, which is on Saadiyat Island, is about a twenty minute drive from the hotel. Unfortunately, most of the museum was closed due to the heavy rain so only had access to certain parts but got in for free. I must admit, our first day was a little underwhelming and we were wondering if we were going to enjoy Abu Dhabi. All I can say is, it just got better and better! For the rest of the holiday the sun was shining and wasn't a cloud in the sky. One place I really wanted to visit was the Grand Mosque. I had read on Trip Advisor that you need to pre register your visit before you go and download the QR code. I expected to have to pay on arrival but it was free to enter. This would have been great value but i ended up paying for some outfits for Laila and I to wear as women need to be completely covered up. On arrival at the Mosque, we got out of the taxi and were pounced on by a vendor selling the cover ups we needed. He immediately picked out a beautiful pink outfit, which he dressed me in. (over the clothes I was wearing)! I was immediately sold! Laila chose her outfit and then it came to the price! I have to say, I was not expecting the price to be so high and bartered a little. We agreed on half the original price! I still think I over paid massively but I'm not great at bartering and the outfits were so lovely! The Mosque is out of this world. I've never seen a more intricately designed structure. It was absolutely mesmerising. You really do need to see it in person to appreciate it. Every morning, we would have our breakfast in the Vendome the buffet restaurant. Loki, the Falcon would be there from 9am to scare off the crows. Her owner would go around everyone asking if they would like to hold Loki and have their picture taken. It was such a lovely experience and we learnt a lot. If you didn't know, Falcons are the national bird of the UAE. After breakfast, we would head to the beach and we were very well looked after by Koffi. Koffi would have sun loungers already made up for us when we got the beach with towels and water. We never expected this kind of treatment as we aren't the type of people to claim sunbeds but he did it anyway. Koffi really went the extra mile to please us and talk to us. On the last day, there was a letter on the sunbed from Koffi thanking us for our smiles and kindness. We were speechless. In the evenings, we would go and watch the sunset at the beach lounge bar before dining at one of the fine dining restaurants within the hotel. We were on a Half Board basis so we had an allowance towards the bill. My favourite was the Indian Restaurant Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi and Carl and Laila's favourite was Hakkasan the Chinese Restaurant, which I later found out, there is one in London so will be visiting there in the future! There is a lot to do at the Emirates Palace. One morning, we hired bikes (free of charge) and rode around the grounds of the hotel. The hotel is 1 km long and has a Marina. We rode to the marina to see the yachts and on the way back, came across a Bedouin Camp where we were invited in for Arabic Tea & Coffee. I had the tea which tasted like Honey, it was delicious. By this point, Laila had made friends with the occupant of the tent and he took her on the second camel ride of the holiday! What initially drew us into the camp was the two month old camel. I never thought camels were cute until I saw the baby! Being arty, Laila was disappointed that she didn't get to fully experience the Louvre Museum on the first day so she and I went back. As Laila was 17, she got in for free so only I had to pay. It cost me around £13. Laila thoroughly enjoyed the museum and really appreciated the art and sculptures. We also came across a Turtle rehabilitation area. After the museum, we decided to take a taxi to the Galleria Mall and do some shopping before heading back to the hotel to have dinner. Another activity which is highly recommended is the Presidential Palace. . It is right next to the hotel but because the grounds are so huge and its very hot, it is still advisable to take a taxi. Wow, another stunning, intricate building. Again, women had to cover their shoulders and knees but it wasn't as strict as the Grand Mosque. After eight nights, the end of the holiday came and we all felt sad to be leaving. We chose to visit Abu Dhabi because we have been to Dubai eight times and wanted to see how they compare. Our main observations were that Abu Dhabi is a lot calmer than Dubai. The roads are less busy and there are a lot less sky scrapers. However, you still get the same high standards as Dubai. I would highly recommend Abu Dhabi if you want a more chilled holiday.

17 March 2024

've been to Barbados four times and thought it was time to visit another Caribbean island. St Lucia has always intrigued me because it looks so different to Barbados with it's lush green mountainous landscape, its famous Pitons and volcanic beaches. On Sunday 3rd March myself, husband Carl and 17 year old daughter Laila boarded our Virgin Atlantic flight at Heathrow Terminal 3. I always book Premium Economy on long haul routes because it provides an extra level of comfort and you also get little perks like Virgins Wander wall which is an area in the galley where you can go and help yourself to snacks and soft drinks. The extra leg room, wider seats and foot rest are so worth paying the extra for! Our flight went without a hitch and we landed in St Lucia on time. We were in our pre booked taxi and on our way to our hotel within 30 minutes. No fast track was needed on this flight! I noticed some people hadn't completed their immigration forms prior to arrival, which meant they had to complete them before they could enter. En route to the Royalton An Autograph Collection near Rodney Bay, was quite a hair raising experience at times due to the mountainous landscape and it was dark. There is only one road which takes you from the airport in the South to the Royalton in the North. Our journey only took 90minutes. Our driver was extremely friendly and told us a lot about the island. We arrived at the Royalton and were greeted by such friendly staff at the separate Diamond club check in area, who immediately made us feel welcome. I opted for Diamond Club when making the booking, which meant we had Butler service and enabled us to enter exclusive Diamond Club areas and restaurants. Our room was a Luxury Family Suite with Ocean Views and it was huge! Laila had her own separate area, which she was delighted about and so were we! The bed was up there with one of the most comfortable, we've ever had in a hotel. There was a minibar, which would be stocked with your favourite drinks, coffee machine, safe, iron, clothes steamer, robes, slippers and toiletries. One thing i did find extremely annoying was the Royalton theme tune which is playing on a loop on the tv when you enter the room for the first time and every time you turn the tv on. Luckily we didn't watch much tv! On our first day, after a lovely night sleep, we all woke up at about 4.45am so we were up bright an early, eager to catch some sun! No such luck as it pretty much rained all day, however, we still managed to burn! The locals call it liquid sunshine and now I understand why! We were allocated two butlers called Travis and Neil. They were fantastic and always checked in on us in the morning to see what our plans were for the day and make dinner reservations. They would also remind us of our dinner reservations for the day. This was all done over Whatsapp which is set up on check in. I believe if you are not part of Diamond Club or Hideaway (Adult only) you are not allowed to pre book the restaurants and you are on a first come first serve basis. There are several restaurants including Italian, Caribbean, Tex Mex, Sushi and Steak. My favourite was the Caribbean, the flavours in the dishes were delicious! The buffet restaurant was decent and had many choices available. We would spend our days between the Diamond Club pool and the beach. The beach is public so you do get vendors coming along trying to sell trips and their wares. They are very friendly and we even booked a private boat trip to see the Pitons and waterfall with Jefferson. He was a character! One evening, we decided to go outside of the hotel and check out Rodney Bay. It's a bustling town with bars and restaurants, shops and supermarkets Neil our Butler arranged our taxi and we paid $50 (US) return. Taxis are not cheap in St Lucia! It was about a ten minute drive. We had a walk around Rodney Bay and Laila took a tumble on a grate in the road (they were everywhere) and cut her knees quite badly. Naturally, it ruined her evening and we returned to the hotel where there was some fantastic entertainment. Laila had a cocktail and soon perked up and forgot about her injuries. In fact she perked up so much, she stayed out partying with other guests until 4am! Our boat trip which we arranged with Jefferson was fantastic. The boat picked us up at the beach at 2pm and we set off to see the Pitons and docked in Souffriere where we took a quick taxi ride to the water fall. After the waterfall, we got back on the boat and were taken to Anse Chatstanet to do some snorkelling. I stayed on the boat and enjoyed a Rum Punch whilst Carl and Laila did the snorkelling! on the way back to the hotel, we made a quick loo stop at Marigot Bay. Marigot Bay is a very beautiful area, with expensive hotels and restaurants. Celebs have houses there! After Marigot Bay, we headed back to the hotel and before us was the huge Celebrity Equinox Cruise Ship leaving the port of Castries sailing towards the sunset. The whole trip took about four hours. Our stay at the Royalton was very memorable and would recommend it to anyone who likes a big resort with lots to do, plenty of entertainment, food and drink. It really does suit all ages groups

18 December 2023

In order to get into the festive spirit and also celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary, my husband Carl and I thought it would be wonderful to visit a European Christmas market. Budapest has always intrigued us, so we finally decided to go and spend three nights there. Our flight with British Airways from London Heathrow went smoothly, and by 1pm, we were already checked into our room at the lovely Hotel Moments in Budapest. The hotel is situated in Andrassy Avenue, and our room was incredibly spacious and had everything we needed for our stay. Upon arrival, our first priority was to find a restaurant as we were quite hungry. Luckily, we stumbled upon an Italian restaurant just a few steps away from our hotel called Trattoria Cardinale. The pizzas were gigantic, almost sliding off the plate, but they filled us up and set us up for the rest of the afternoon. One of the things I was really looking forward to seeing was the shoes on the Danube. It was a 15-minute walk to get there, and when we arrived, we were overcome with a sense of melancholy and an eerie atmosphere. On our way back from the shoes, we came across a River Cruise tour desk and decided to book an evening trip down the Danube. We boarded the boat at 6:30, where we were greeted with a glass of bubbly. The boat set sail at 7pm, and we opted for the Hungarian buffet option, which included soup and delicious Hungarian Goulash. The boat trip lasted approximately two hours, during which we had the chance to admire spectacular landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament and the castle. On our second day, we decided to visit the Dohany Street Synagogue. It took us about 20 minutes to walk there, and through the back streets of Budapest, we noticed several "Gentlemen's Clubs." This is when it dawned on us why Budapest is popular with stag groups! The synagogue, being the largest in Europe, was incredibly impressive. It cost us about 19,000 HUF (around £42) for the two of us to enter. The museum inside is filled with historical artifacts and heart breaking stories about the Jews during the Holocaust. Afterward, we crossed the bridge to the Buda side of Budapest to visit the castle. Instead of walking up the steep hill, we decided to take the Funicular. The views from the castle were stunning, despite the ongoing scaffolding and construction. Budapest has a wide variety of restaurants, particularly Italian ones. We discovered a charming Mexican restaurant for lunch, where we sat outside under heaters and enjoyed people-watching. There's nothing quite like observing the locals while you're in a foreign city! In the evening, we had dinner at Zenobia, the Lebanese restaurant attached to our hotel. The food was delicious and bursting with flavour, leaving us very satisfied. On the third day, the weather was rainy and cold. Since we had already explored the main attractions, we decided to do some Christmas shopping. However, due to our limited hand luggage, we couldn't buy too much. The Christmas markets, scattered throughout the city, were delightful, selling Hungarian food and unique gifts. We briefly considered visiting one of the Thermal Spas but ultimately decided against it after chatting with a lovely couple from Kosovo over coffee. They warned us that the spas get overcrowded and you tend to feel cold when you come out. Overall, our trip to Budapest for the Christmas market and our anniversary celebration was truly memorable. The city had so much to offer and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring its history, cuisine, and charming streets.

07 September 2023

When I was looking for a family holiday with our 23 month old grandson Sonny, I thought Ikos Andalucia had exactly what I was looking for and I wasn’t wrong! Our journey started at Heathrow where we took a British Airways flight to Gibraltar. This may seem odd to fly into Gibraltar when we’re actually holidaying in Spain but there were two reasons. The flight was cheaper and Gibraltar Airport is slightly closer to the hotel than Malaga. I pre booked a taxi transfer to collect us from Gibraltar Airport. The driver was there to greet us and he walked us into Spain where we went through passport control (we were the only ones there so no queues) and into our Mercedes van which was very nice! On arrival at Ikos Andalucia, which took about 45 minutes, we were greeted by very friendly staff. They immediately took our luggage away and didn’t see it again until we arrived at the rooms. We were taken into a beautifully designed bar/lounge area where we were handed a glass of fizz and were able to admire the surroundings whilst the staff checked us in. There were five of us so I booked two rooms. My husband and I had a Superior Double Room with Sea View and my two Daughters and Grandson had a Superior Double Room with Pool View. To be honest, I was a little disappointed with the Sea View and thought the Pool View was better. The rooms were very light and airy with a well-stocked mini bar, Nespresso machine, kettle, iron/ironing board and toiletries. Our first impressions were that the grounds were huge and very aesthetically pleasing. It is also very accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. With nine pools and nine restaurants, we were spoilt for choice and there were no sunbed wars going on here! Sonny (our grandson) had the best time in the toddlers pool. It was so safe, shallow and the water was heated so was easy to sit in the pool and watch him play. There was a play area attached to the pool area, which he absolutely loved. He really was in his element! We never had to wait long for one of the pool servers to take a drink or food order and they were so friendly, sometimes tempting us with different options. Also, little touches like handing our fruit bowls and doughnuts was a nice treat. Vegetarians, vegans, babies, kids and anyone with dietary requirements are all catered for in the restaurants. I particularly liked Fresco the Italian Restaurant. Before we arrived, I downloaded the Ikos app where I could make reservations for restaurants for three nights of our stay before we arrived. We took the free shuttle into Puerto Banus on a couple of evenings and to nearby Estepona on a cloudy day. My husband thought it would be a great idea to walk back to the hotel from Estepona along the coastal path. This took two hours and I wouldn’t have mind so much if I wasn’t wearing flip flops, oh and it was my birthday! There were some bars and restaurants en route but I was itching to get back for a lovely pizza and Aperol Spritz at Fresco’s! One aspect which really stood out, were the staff. They were all so friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. Sonny would make a mess in the restaurants with his food and they never got fed up with him, they actually seemed to love him! I would highly recommend Ikos Andalucia especially for families with young children. It’s a short flight from the UK, it felt so safe and there was plenty to do.

03 August 2023

Having visited Sorrento for my sisters wedding six years ago, I was always desperate to return! The short 2 ½ hour flight from Heathrow to Naples with British Airways took us over the Swiss Alps and down over Italy. Be sure to sit on the left hand side of the aircraft to enjoy the view of Mount Vesuvius as you approach Naples Airport. We were met by our transfer driver who took us to our hotel in Sorrento. The journey took about an hour, which was shorter than expected but I think we were lucky the traffic wasn’t bad. An alternative way to Sorrento is to catch a ferry from Naples Port. The Port is a good twenty minute taxi ride from the Airport. Imperial Hotel Tramontano was our home for four nights. The entrance to the hotel was very pretty and quite grand looking. We had a Superior Triple Room with Garden View. It was a good size and had amenities such as hair dryer, tv, toiletries but unfortunately no tea and coffee making facilities. At breakfast, we were always greeted by very welcoming and friendly staff. There was a good choice of hot and cold buffet food and unlimited fresh coffee. We spent a couple of days lazing by the pool. It was always a warm enough temperature to get straight in. This isn’t something I do often but Italy and the rest of Europe (except for the UK) were experiencing a heat wave! My only gripe with the pool area was that people reserved sunbeds. I didn’t expect this in Italy, not sure why! Sorrento is a beautiful town and quite flat so good if you have mobility issues. You are spoilt for choice with the many bars and restaurants and can literally shop till you drop! If you love shoes, Sorrento is definitely the place for you as there are loads of little shops where you can have Italian Leather sandals made and they don’t cost the earth! It is the perfect hub for exploring the Amalfi Coast. There are numerous ferries to Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Naples and more. There are plenty of ticket offices down at the port so it’s really easy to book. My only advise would be not to leave it to the last minute to buy tickets in peak season as they can sell out. We took the ferry to Amalfi and Positano. As Amalfi is further than Positano, we went there first and then went to Positano on the way back to Sorrento. It took about 90 minutes to get to Amalfi from Sorrento. Amalfi and Positano are beautiful coastal towns. They are quite small and very steep so definitely wouldn’t recommend for anyone with mobility issues. Like Sorrento, there are many shops all selling similar goods. When approaching by ferry, the views are breath taking. On a previous trip to Amalfi, I went by coach. The road down to the town is extremely bendy and not great if you suffer from motion sickness. The views are stunning though. Capri was our next stop for three nights. On arrival by ferry, we found the taxi queue and waited about an hour in the scorching heat. I really underestimated how busy it was going to be! If you are staying in Capri anywhere other than the port, I would arrange a transfer to meet you off the ferry. There is a Funicular to take you up to Capri Town but the queue was also very busy. Our taxi up to Capri town cost 27 Euros, so not cheap! The ride was very scenic although hairy at times. We checked into Hotel Della Piccola Marina and were shown to our room straight away. It was very tranquil and just what we needed after the hustle and bustle of the port. Our room was large and we had the most beautiful sea view. The pool area was a good size and didn’t struggle too much to get sun beds. Our only issue with the room was it had really bad wifi and again, no tea and coffee making facilities! The staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and helpful, giving us lots of advise on restaurants and where to visit on the island. On the advise of a lovely member of staff, we took a bus to Anacapri, which only took about ten to fifteen minutes. The town was very pretty. We were told that goods would be cheaper in Anacapri compared to Capri Town but I disagree as it seemed the same to me. Our main reason for visiting Anacapri was the Mount Solaro Chair Lift. My initial thoughts were how can I go on that when I’m scared of heights. It was literally a metal chair taking you up the mountain! I could see hundreds of people all embarking on the journey up the mountain so told myself to stop being silly and just do it. I’m so glad I had that word with myself as I’ve never felt so at peace than I did on that 13 minute ride. The peace of no one talking (apart from a few people who felt the need to shout from one chair to another) and the views can only be described as breath taking. Once at the top, you are surrounded by more stunning views and there is a restaurant where you can get a drink and something to eat. The journey down was even better than the journey up and I really didn’t want to get off! Getting back to Capri Town took a while. The bus queue was very long and the buses are on the small side. We must have waited about an hour in the scorching heat and when we did get on, we were crammed in like Sardines! We could have took a taxi but the prices in Capri are extortionate! Capri Town is beautiful and full of high end shops. There are also lots of linen clothes shops and the usual shoe shops you find in Sorrento. We did struggle a bit with finding restaurants and ended up dining in the same one twice. Will definitely research more next time! At the end of our stay in Capri, we caught the ferry over to Naples for our flight home. Luckily, we gave ourselves enough time and caught the 09.50 ferry (our flight was at 14.40) as there was a very long taxi queue when we arrived at Naples Port. Taxi’s constantly came along and ended up waiting about half an hour. The drive to the airport took about twenty to thirty minutes. It was further than I thought. We had an amazing time visiting Sorrento and Capri and will definitely go back one day.

08 June 2023

I’d never been to Croatia before so really didn’t know what to expect. The lush green hills which surrounded Dubrovnik airport took me by surprise. We were greeted by our driver and taken to Hotel Kompas in Lapad, which took about 30 minutes. Along the way, our driver told us all about the history of Dubrovnik and Croatia and how they rebuilt the city after the terrible war back in the 1990’s. As we approached Dubrovnik along the scenic coastline, we were wowed by the stunning scenery. It reminded us of the Amalfi Coast but less built up. On arrival at the hotel, we were greeted by a friendly hotel member who checked us in whilst we admired more beautiful views. The Reception area was on the 10th floor and had panoramic views of the coastline. It is an upside down hotel where the floors go down instead of up. Our room was on the 10th floor right next to Reception so we had the benefit of the beautiful views. Aside from the views, the room was clean, airy and modern. The location for us was perfect as we had the stony beach and lots of restaurants on our doorstep and Dubrovnik City was a scenic 40 minute walk away. We caught a taxi back, which cost 18 euros. I later found out that Uber would have been a lot cheaper. Dubrovnik is a beautiful city steeped in history. The City Walls took a while to find but we were in no hurry. Eventually, we came across the entrance and discovered the fee to get in was 35 euros for adults and 15 euros for 15’s and under. I thought this was expensive and was reluctant to pay. My husband soon convinced me and off we went in to the City Walls. They were surprisingly quiet considering cruise ships were in that day. It took a good hour and a half to walk all the way around and the views just got better. The next day, we decided to do an E-Tuk Tuk tour of the city. It was so much fun and we learnt a lot. Robbie our guide picked us up from the hotel in the Tuk Tuk and we spent the next couple of hours touring the whole city and going to the highest point which looked over the whole area. I highly recommend this tour as it’s different from being cooped up in a bus and the Tuk Tuk’s are eco friendly. One thing to note is that it can get a bit hairy if you’re scared of heights like me! On our last afternoon, we took a boat trip to the Blue Caves. This cost 150 euros for the 3 of us. We were picked up at around 3pm and taken to the Harbour where we boarded the boat. About 30 minutes later, we arrived at the first set of caves. When booking, I assumed we would be taken through the caves in the boat like in Capri but this wasn’t the case. If you wanted to see the caves, you had to swim to them underwater! I decided (even though I can swim) it wasn’t for me and stayed on the boat and had a good chat with another lady who was under the same impression as me. At the next set of caves, we were informed that they were harder to get to and only go if you’re a strong swimmer hence I carried on chatting to the lovely lady! There was a certain thrill seeker on the boat though who thought it was amazing! The final part of the trip was a little island stop off. The Island Kolocep was very small and not really anything there apart form more stunning views. Lapad has many restaurants which offer different cuisine from Fish to Japanese. We tried to get in the Japanese on our last night but they were fully booked. We were there at the end of May when it wasn’t over busy so definitely plan ahead if you go in June, July and August. Dubrovnik far exceeded my expectations and i would highly recommend it. I will definitely be back to discover more of Croatia. Some Tips: Croatians like to be paid in cash so take plenty with you. There are ATM’s dotted around. You can pay by card but it might be more expensive. The weather at the end of May was very similar to the UK so take a jacket for the evenings. Croatian people are extremely friendly of you’re friendly to them. Dubrovnik is small so you only need a few days.

06 June 2023

Dubai, the city which keeps luring us back! Easter 23 was our eighth time in Dubai. This time, we stayed for six nights at the One & Only Royal Mirage Palace. On previous visits, we had always dreamt of staying at the One & Only one day. We used to look at it from the Westin next door and think one day we will stay there! The hotel is on another level to other hotels we’ve stayed at in Dubai. Yes, you pay a lot but you certainly get what you pay for! The staff were the friendliest we have ever come across in Dubai, they really couldn’t do enough for us. There was no issue with sunbeds (unlike other hotels we’ve stayed at in Dubai) even though it was a very busy time with it being the Easter holidays. There are several restaurants, Admittedly, we only dined in a few but they were all fantastic. Other times, we would eat out at JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) or a Mall where there are so many different restaurants for all nationalities and cultures. Eating out can be very reasonable in price. One of my daughters favourites is the Cheesecake Factory. For anyone who hasn’t heard of the Cheesecake Factory, it’s an American chain and you can actually have a meal there. We’ve been several times and never actually managed a Cheesecake for desert because the portions are huge! The location for us is perfect. The Marina and JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) is a short taxi ride away or if you’re feeling energetic, you can walk it. The tram is also opposite. We’ve never used the tram because we find taxi’s are quite cheap. Avoid Uber as its twice the cost of a Careem taxi. Mall of the Emirates is approximately a 15 minute drive away depending on the time of day and the hotel sits by the entrance to the Palm. This time, we decided to do the Desert Safari. We did it once before about eight years ago. First, we were taken to an area where people could use Quad Bikes (at an extra cost) then on to the actual safari. Before entering the Safari, they have to let the tyres down on the vehicles so that they can drive through the dunes. Some- how, whilst travelling through the dunes, we lost a tyre! It was soon fixed by other drivers of vehicles who came to assist and then we were on our way. Half way through the dunes, we stopped for a spot of Sand Boarding. One of most embarrassing moments ever occurred when I lost balance (even though I was sat on the board) managed to turn the board around and go down the steep hill backwards with my legs in the air, screaming!. All I could hear was everyone at the top laughing! Top Tip, if you’re scared of heights, maybe give it a miss as the slope is very steep and that’s what made me lose my balance. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway! After dune bashing and snowboarding, we were taken to a Bedouin Camp where they put on entertainment. Because it was Ramadan, there was no Belly Dancer but they replaced them with another act which was very good. My daughter specifically enjoyed the free Shisha! The food offered was a bar b que and buffet. It was ok but I’m quite fussy! I decided to fly with BA this time and a pleasant experience it was. We flew Premium Economy both ways and the service was excellent. I feel BA have really upped their game lately. The terminal in Dubai is much smaller than the huge Emirates terminal, which meant we queued less and were out of the airport quicker. Some tips for travelling to Dubai: Careem Taxi’s are the cheapest. Uber charge double to Careem Chauffer driven cars charge four times the Careem price You may be offered a Chauffer taxi without knowing so check the price before you get in. If the car isn’t cream, don’t be fooled! Dubai is extremely child friendly Avoid June, July & August. The heat is unbearable. We visited during Ramadan and hotel restaurants were all open, the malls were open too. I get asked a lot if Dubai is pretentious. I say only if you go to certain places like Beach Clubs etc. It’s as pretentious as you want it to be but you can avoid it. Dubai has everything. Fantastic beaches, shopping malls, water parks, culture, sky diving,. There is something for everyone and you can’t get bored.